Electric block-signal.



.No. 836,895. PATENTBD NOV. 27, 1906.

w. B. SANDS. ELECTRIG BLOCK SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED 11110.29- 1905.

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.WALTER E. SANDS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE L. A. THOMPSON .SOENIO RAILWAY COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COR- PORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC BLOCK-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1906'.

Application filed December 29,1905. Serial No. 293,720.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER E. SANDs, a

citizen of the United States, residing at car in a given block arranges an electric circuit in such a manner that a danger-signal is set for a second train or car entering the block behind and an alarm started at the side of the track and in which when the first train or car emerges from the block the sig- :pole of which extends the wire 10, which is nal is set to safety and the alarm stopped.

The invention is in some respects an improvement on the invention set forth in my application filed'March 8, 1905, Serial No. 250,702. Y The more specific object of the present invention is to improve the signaling mechan ism set forth in said application by rendering its operation certain even when the normal danger-signal and alarm-setting mechanism is rendered inoperative. This is accomplished by the addition of a safety-set section to the block-section of my prior application and by a modification of and addition to the mechanism and electrical connections set forth in my prior application.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the entire system. Fig. 2-is a detail plan view of supplemental contactstrips for the several block-sections.

The track is divided into a series of blocks separated or insulated from each other, 'each block consistin of a settin s'ection-a a v I J safety-set section b, a main section Fe, and a releasing-section" d. In the drawings there are shown one complete block B and parts of two other blocks A and C.

A The designed operation is 'asfollowsi A train or car traveling in the 'direction of the" arrow and entering block B first enters setting-section a and establishes an open circuit to the signaling mechanism, including the main section c of block A, which is closed by of block B.

another train entering the main section 0 of block A, thus setting the signaling mechanism to danger. The first train then enters the safety-set section b, which is normally inoperative; but if the setting-section fails to work then the safety-set mechanism becomes operative and performs the function normally performed by the setting-section a. The first'train after traversing the main section 0 of block B enters the releasing-section d and establishes a circuit to the signaling mechanism including the main'section c of block A, which is closed by the second train on main section a of block A, thus setting the signaling mechanism to safety. The means whereby these results are secured are comprised 1n the mechanlsm and electrlcal connections that will now be described.

6 is the source of electric supply, from one connected by means of wire 11 with one rail of the setting-section of block B, by wire 12 with one rail of the safety-set section of block B, by wire 14 with one rail of the re leasing-section of block B, and by wire 13 with one rail of the main section of block A.

From the other pole of the source of'supply extends the wire 20. Wire ZO is connected by wire 21 with one pole of the solen- 'oid f, whose other pole is connected by .wire

22 with the other rail of the setting-section a of block B. Wire 20 is also connectedby wire 23 with one pole of -the solenoid g,

whose other pole is connected by wire 24 with the otherjrail of the releasing-section d.

h is a contact-strip between the two solen oids f and g and connected by wire 25 with wire 20. 'L and j are contact-pieces 'respec! tively opposite the'opposite ends of contactstrip h. The solenoids f and 9 have a common core 70, to which is secured a cross-piece Z, the core. and cross-piece constituting, in effect, an armature or switch common to both solenoids. When the solenoid g is excited, the

core is is drawn to the left, causing the crosspiece Z to electrically connect it and j. When the solenoid fis excited, the corelc is drawn to the right, causing the cross-piece l to electrically connect it and i.

30 is a wire connected to contact-piece i. 31 and are branch wires :exter'rdingrifrom wires 30. Wire 31 extends to an alarm in, which is connected by wire 32 with the other rail of main section of block A.

40 is a wire connecting contact-piece j with a contact-piece n. 0 is a contact-piece nor mally electrically connected with contact n by means of the pivoted switch-lever p. 41 42 are wires connecting contact-piece 0 and one pole of the solenoid s. The other pole of the solenoid is connected by wire 43 with the wire 10.

The core of the solenoid s is connected by a cord q, passing over a series of pulleys r,with the semaphore t. It will be understood that when the solenold sis not energized, gravity mov e's" the semaphore t to the illustrated posolenoid g,

siti'o'n signifying danger. When the solenoid s is energized, the semaphore t is moved to safety.

While the source of current-supply e is diagrammatically illustrated and shown as connected-with but a single block, it will be understood that the most convenient arrangement will ordinarily be to provide a single source of supply at the end of a long transmission-line extending throughout the length of the line of way with which each 1 block is'connected in shunt-circuit.

'When the track is vacant, the core of solenoid's f and g is in its left-hand position, thus establishing the following circuit: from source of supply through wires 20 and 25, contact-strip h, cross-piece l, contact-piece j, Wire 40, contact n, lever p, contact 0, wires 41 and 42, solenoid s,'and wires 43 and 10, thus exciting the solenoids s and setting the signal t to safety. When a train or car reaches the setting-section a, the following circuit is established: from the source of supply through wires and 11, car-axles, wire 22, solenoid f, and wires 21 and to the source of supply. This energizes solenoid f and pulls core Tr to the right, opening the circuit to the solenoid s and setting the signal to danger. When a second train or car reaches the main section 0 of block A, the following circuit is established: from the source of supply through wires 10 and 13, car-axles, wire 32, alarm m, wires 31 and 30, contact i, cross-piece l, contact-strip h, and wires and 20 to the source of supply. Thus the car or train on block A is notified, both by the danger-signal and the alarm, that a car or train is on the block ahead.

When the first-mentioned train or car on block B reaches the releasing-section d, the following circuit is established: from the source of supply through wires 10 and 14, caraxles, wire 24, solenoid g, and wires 23 and 20 to the source of supply. This energizes drawing the core to the left, closing the circuit through the solenoid 8, thereby setting the signal to safety and opening the circuit through the alarm. The train or car on block Ais thus notified that block B is clear.

The foregoing operation is the normal one; but experience has shown that there is always a possibility that the setting mechanism will fail to work, due to sand on the rails, for instance, or to other causes. A perfect signalling system must be one that can be relied upon to always work, at least so far as concerns the setting of the signaling mechanism to danger. The possibility of a failure in this respect is obviated by the interposition of the safety-set sectionbbetween the settingsection a and the main section 0 and the mechanism and connections that will now be described.

a is a magnet connected to the other rail of the safety-set section b by means of the wire 52 and to the junction of wires 41 and 42 by means of wire 53. The armature v of the magnet in its normal position engages the lever p and holds it in the illustrated position. to 00 are two contact-pieces normally separated and connected, respectively, to wire and wire 51, the latter connecting with wire 20.

It will be understood that if the setting mechanism works properly when a train or car reaches the setting-section a the solenoid will move the cross piece l to the position illustrated, breaking the connection between contacts h and 7'. Therefore when the train or car reaches the safety-set section b the circuit through the magnet a, while closed between the rails of section b, will be open be-- tween contacts h and j, and the magnet will not be energized. If, however, the setting mechanism has failed to work, the solenoidcore and cross-piece Z will remain in the left-hand position, and when the train or car reaches the safety-set section b the following circuit Will be established: from the source of supply through wires 10 and 12, car-axles, wire 52, magnet u, wire 53, Wire 41, contact 0, switch-lever p, contact n, wire 40, contact 3', cross-piece Z, contact h, and wires 25 and 20 to the source of supply. The magnet u thus energized attracts the armature 1), which releases the switch-lever p, and the latter falls into position to span the contacts to and :10. When the second train reaches the main section 0 of block a, the following circuit is es tablished: from the source of supply through wires 10 and 13, car-axles, wire 32, alarm m, wires 31 and 50, contact w, switch-lever 19, contact w, wires 51 and 20 to the source of supply. This operates the alarm. The circuit to solenoid s remains open, owing to the breaking of connection between contacts n and 0, and hence the signal remains at danger. This condition continues until the switch-lever p is reset to its normal position, when the circuit to the alarm is broken and the circuit to the solenoid .9 closed, thus setting the signal to safety. I The switchle-- ver 19 is of course not set until the first train or car passes out of block B onto block C.

It will be understood-that there is a separate set of mechanism correspondingto that described, connected with the setting, safetyset, and releasing sections of each block and the main section of the preceding block.

While both rails of the track are shown in sulated or separated from each other at the junction of the sections, it is notnecessary to so insulate or separate-the sections of rail connected with wire 10, as the rail-sections corlmected with wire 10 may be a continuous rai It will be understood that the releasingsection may be considered to be either a part of the block behind it or a part of the block ahead of it or as constituting merely a means for separating the two blocks, although I have for convenience referred to assume it to be a part of the bloc behind it.

Instead of depending upon the rails and car-axles to close the circuits I may provide the contact-strips shown in detail in Fig. 2 and in diagram in Fig. 1. These contacts each consist of strips y y, one or both of which are flexible and secured, respectively, preferably at their-ends, to the supports 2 .2. These contacts are located, preferably, between the tracks and are connected by wires and 61 with the opposite rails of the section, or wire 60 may be connected directlywith wire 10 and wire 61 directly with the wire 22, 52, 32,-

or 24, leading to the corresponding section. The circuit is closed by means of an arm y on the car, which enters .the space between the contact-strips y y at their supported ends and during its travel spreads maintaining'contact with both and emerging from between the strips at their opposite free ends. The contact-strips, if desired, may be exclusively relied upon to control the various circuits and may thus themselves constitute the several sections embodied in my system, although it is preferred. touse. them, when used at all, conjointly with the rail-sections, so as to insure the establishment of the various circuits with absolute certainty.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire Patent, is 1 1. The combination, with a track having blocks; and a setting-section, a safety-set section, and a releasing-section in each block; of a source of current-supply, electric connections from the source of current-supply including said sections, signal mechanism,- a circuit including the signal mechanism, means on the car adapted to close the circuits through the several sections, and means actuated by the closing of the circuits through the several sections, to control the signalcircuit. y

2. The combination with a track having blocks ,and a setting-section, releasing-sec tion, a safety-set section and'a main section the strips apart,

to protect by Letterssource' of supply, circuits including in each block; of a source of current-supply, circuits including said sections, an alarm in the main-section circuit, means on the car adapted to close, the circuits through'the several sections, and means, actuated by the closing-of the circuits through the several sections, to control the alarm-circuit.

3. The combination with a track having blocks; and a setting-section, a releasing-section, a safety-set section and a main section in each block; ofa source of current-supply, circuits including said sections, an alarm in the main-section circuit, signal mechanism, a circuit including the signal mechanism, means on the car'adapted to close the circuits through the several sections, and means, actuated by the closing of the circuits through the severalsections, to control the alarm and signal circuits. I

4. Thecombination with a track having blocks, and a setting-section and a safety-set section in each block of a source of currentsupply, signal mechanism, a circuit including the signal mechanism, a circuit including the setting-section, a circuitincluding the safetyset section, means actuated by the closing of the setting-section circuit, to open the circuit to the signal mechanism and the safetyset-section circuit, and means, actuated by the closing of the safety-set-section circuit when thcfirst-named means fails to operate, to open the circuit to the signal mechanism.

.5. The combination with a track having blocks, and a setting-section, a safety-set section and a releasing-section in each block, of a source of supply,a signal mechanism, a circuit including the signal mechanism, circuits including respectively the setting-section, the releasing-section and the'safety-set section, means, actuatedby the closing of the settingsection circuit, to open the circuit to the sig nal mechanism and the safety-set-section circuit, means, actuated by the closing of the releasing-section circuit, to close the circuit to the signal mechanism, and 'means, actuated by the closing of the safety-set-section circuit when the first-named means fails to operate,to open the circuit to the signal mechanism.

6 The combination with a track having blocks, anda setting-section, a safety-set section and a main section in each block, of a respectively the setting-section and the safety-set section, an alarm, two circuits including the alarm, and the mainsection, means, actuated by the closing of the setting-section circuit, to open the safetyset-section circuit and also, when the main-section circuit is closed,

to close one of the circuits to the alarm, and means, actuated by the closing of the safetyset-section circuit when the first-named means fails to operate, to close the other circuit to the alarm when the main-section circuit is closed.

tion, a

7. The combination with a track having blocks; and a setting-section, a releasing-secsafetyset section and a main section in each block; of a source of current-supply, an alarm, two circuits each including the, main circuit and the alarm, circuitsincludl ing respectively the setting-sectiom the re leasing-section and the safety-set section, means, actuated by the closing of the set ting-section circuit, to open the safety-set section circuit and also, when the mainsection circuit is closed, to close one of the circuits to the alarm, means, actuated by the closing of the. releasing-section circuit, to open both circuits to the alarm, and means, actuated by the closing of'the safety-set-section circuit when the first-named means fails to operate, to close the other circuit to the alarm when the main-section circuit is closed.

, blocks; and a settingsection, a releasing-seccuit to the signal 8. The combination with a trackhaving tion, a safety-set section and a main section in each block; signal mechanism, a circuit including the signal mechanism, circuits including respectively the setting-section and the safety-set section, an alarm, two circuits in cluding the alarm and the main section, means, actuated by the closing of the settingsection circuit, to open the circuit to the sig- I nal mechanism and the safety-set-section circuit, and also, when the main-section circuit is closed, to close one of the circuits to the alarm, and means, actuated by the closing of the safety-set-section circuit when the firstnamed means fails to operate, to open the circuit to the signal mechanism and also, when the main-section circuit is closed, to close the other circuit to the alarm.

9. The combination with a track having blocks; and a setting-section, a releasingsection, a safety-set section and a main section in each block; of a source of current-supply, signal mechanism, a circuit including the signalmechanism, an alarm, two circuits each' including the main section and the alarm, circuits including respectively the setting-section, the'releasing-section and the safety-set section, means, actuated by the closing of the setting-sectioncircuit, to open the circuit to the signal mechanism and the safety-set-section circuit and also, when the main-section I circuit is closed, to close .one of the circuits to the alarm, means, actuated by the closing of the releasing-section circuit, to. close the cirmechanism and open both circuits to the alarm, and means, actuated by the closing of the saietyset-section cir- I cuit when the first-named means fails to work, to open the circuit to the signal mechi anism and also, when the main-section circuit is closed, to close the other circuit to the alarm.

10. The combination with a track having blocks, and a setting-section and a safety-set section in each block, of a source of currentpply,

signal mechanism, a circuit including the slgnal mechanism, a circuit including the setting-section, a circuit including the safetyset section, two switches'interposed in the signal-circuit, means, actuated by the closing of the setting-section circuit to open one of said switches and means, actuated by the closing of the safety-set section when the first-named means fails to .operate, to open the other switch.

11. The combination with a track having blocks, and a setting-section and a safety-set section in each block, of a source of currentsupply, signal mechanism, a circuit including the signal mechanism, a circuit including the setting-section, a circuit including the safetyset section, two switches, each interposed in both the signal-circuit and the safety-set-section circuit, means, actuated by the closing of the setting-section circuit, to open one 0 said switches, and means, actuated by the closing of first-named means fails to operate, to open theother switch.

12. The combination with a track having blocks, and a setting-section, a safety-set section and a main section in each block, of a source of supply, circuits including respectively the setting-section and the safety-set section, an alarm, two circuits including the alarm and the main section, two switches, one adapted to beinterp'osed in each alarmcircuit, means, actuated by the closing of the settingsection circuit, to close one of said switches, and means, actuated by the closing of the safetyset-section circuit when the first-named means fails to operate, to close the other of said switches.

13..-The combination with a track having blocks, and a setting-section, a safety-set section and a main section in each block, of a source of supply, circuits including respectively the setting-section and the safety-set section, an alarm, two circuits including the alarm and themain section, two switches, one adapted to .be interposed in one alarmcircuit and the other adapted 'to be interposed in the other alarm-circuit and both of log them normally interposed in thesafety-setsection circuit, means, actuated by the clos ing of the-setting-section circuit,-to operate one switch to open the safety-setsection circuit and close one alarm-circuit, and means, actuated by the closing of the safety-set-section circuit when the first-named means fails to operate, to operate the other switch to open the safety-set-section circuit and close the other alarmcircuit.

14. The combination with a track having blocks, and a setting-section, a safety-set section and a main section in each block, of a source of supply, an alarm, signal mechanism, two circuits each including the alarm and main section, circuits respectively including the setting-section and the safety-set section,

two switches, one adapted to be interposed in the si nal-circuit and one alarm-circuit and the ot er adapted to be interposed in the signal-circuit and the other alarm-circuit, means, actuated by the closin of the setting-section circuit, to move one 0 said switches to open the signal-circuit and close one alarm-circuit, and means, actuated by the closing of the safety set section when the first named means fails to operate, to move the other switch to open the signal-circuit and close the other alarm-circuit.

- 15. The combination, with a track having blocks, and a setting-section, a safety-set section and a main section in each block, of a source of supply, an alarm, signal mechanism, two circuits each including the alarm and main section,,circuits respectivelyincluding the setting-section and the safety-set section,- two switches, each adapted to be interposed in the signal-circuit and the safety-setsection circuit, one switch adapted to be interposed in one alarm-circuit and the other switch inthe other alarm-circuit, means ac tuated by the closing of the setting-section circuit, to move one of said switches to open the signal-circuit and the safetyset-section circuit and close one alarm-circuit, and means, actuated by the closing of the safety-set-section circuit when the first-named means fails to operate, to move the other of said switches to open the signal-circuit and the safety-setsection circuit and close the other.alarmcircuit.

16. The combination with a track having blocks; and a setting-section, a safety-set section, a main section and a releasing-section comprising each block; of a source of ourrent-supply, a signal-control solenoid, electric connections from one pole of the currentsupply to the main section of one block and the other sections of the adjacent block and to the signal-control solenoid, a setting-solenoid and a releasing-solenoid, said solenoids being 0 positely acting, an armature common to 0th solenoids, a contact in connection with the armature in either position of the armature, a second contact with which the armature connects when in one position, a third contact with which the armature connects in its other position, electric connections respectively from the setting-section to the setting-solenoid and from the releasingsection to the releasing-solenoid, a normally disconnected pair of contacts, a normally connected pair of contacts, a switch-lever normally connecting'the latter-named pair of contacts, a magnet, the armature whereof normally holds the switch-lever in its normal position, the switch-lever adapted to connect the normally disconnected contacts when released by said armature, an alarm, electrical connections from the other pole of the current-supply respectively to the setting-solenoid, the releasing-solenoid, the first contact and one of the contacts of the normally disconnected pair, electrical connections from the second contact to the alarm and to the other contact of the normally disconnected pair, an electrical connection from the third nected pair, electrical connections from the other contact of the normally connected pair to the signal-control solenoid and to the magnet, and electric connections respectively from the safety-set section to the magnet and from the main section to the alarm.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand, at New York, on this 5 22d day of December, 1905.

WALTER E. SANDS. Witnesses:

, L. A. S UIER,

THORNLEY B. WOOD.

contact to one contact of the normally con- 

